Folding box.



J. FRANCIS.

FOLDING BOX.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 1. 1915.

1,163,652. Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

avweutoz JOSEPH FRHNCIS zrosnrnrnanors-or warannexa, OKLAHOMA.

y FOLDING Box,

1,163,652. I i i Application fiieas tember 1, 1915. Serial no. 48,552.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, dosnerrfFnaxcis,

citizen of the United States, residing at Wapanucka, in the county of Johnston and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Boxes, of which the following is a-specificar tion, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings. 1 a

This invention relates to certain" new and useful improvements in folding boxes or shipping crates and hasfor its primary object to provide a box structure, the several elements of which may be readily assembled or disassembled and, in their latter condition, compactly arranged so that they will occupy a minimum of space in transportation. L I

The invention has for one of its more important detail objects the provision of a novel connecting means between the top and bottom sections of, the box, whereby'the side and end sections will be properly'held in their erect positions iwhenthe box is set up. g

It is a further general objectof the invention to provide a folding or, collapsible box which is simple and durable in its construction, highly serviceable and convenient in practical use and capable of manufacture at relatively small cost.

With the above and other objects inview, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sec tional view through a folding box constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment ofmy invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; F i g. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the box collapsed; and Fig. l is an end elevation.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the bottom or base section of the box, 6 the top thereof, and 7 the two end sections which are connected at their lower edges to the bottom 5 by means of hinges 8. The vertical edges of the end sections 7 are rabbeted, as at 9.

of these side wall sections of the box is also rabbeted or recessed at its opposite ends to provide the shoulders 11 thereon which lit in :5 d. upon id bottom section. Each 5 within the rabbeted vertical edges 9 ofthe end sections of the box.

12 indicates a partition or division wall which is connected by hinges 13 to the inner face of one of the side wall sections 10..

To each end of the top and bottoinsections ofthe'box, spaced I-bolts 1 1 are secured, and to the same, the ends of rods 15 are loozely connected. These rods, at their opposite ends, are integrallyformed with or rigidly connected to a ring 16, and through one of A. latch element 18 is loosely connected to one end-of the link 17. and is formed adjacent to the link with a bend or seat 19. The free end of the latch element is reversely the rings, an elongated link 1? is engaged.

extencledand, after being engaged through the other of the rings 16, extends along one side of the link 17 in parallel relation thereto. Uponthis side of the link, a clamping ring 20 is loosely engaged and is adapted to he slipped over the free end portion of the latch element whereby the same is held in connection withthe link, as'clearly shown in Fig. 40f the drawing.

In the operation of my invention, it will I the two end sections of the box and the top section finally placed upon the side sections. Thus, the several parts of the box structure will be compactly arranged as shown in Fig. 3, and bolts, ropes or other suitable connecting means may be passed through the eyes 14: on the ends of the top and bottom sections so as to hold the several parts against relative movement. hen the box is set up in position for use after being filled, the connecting means between the top and bottom sectionsof the box act to securely clamp the vertical side sections in place and hold the same against outward movement, the end Walls 7 of the box structure preventing any construction, manner of operation, and several advantages of my invention will be clearly and'tully understood. The device, while of very simple construction, is highly serviceable in practicalruse, as it provides a collapsible box ;or crate for the shipment of commodities which inay be Very easily and ui kly set up in condition for use or knocked down and the, several elements thereof compactly arranged so that a large number of the boxes will occupy but a minim-um of space in transportation It is, or

course, apparent that the boxes or crates can be made in various sizes and of any capacity.

While I have 5Sl1OWI1jE1Iil described the pre-f ferred form and construction of the several parts, it is to be understood that the same are susceptible of considerable modification therein andl, therefore, reserve the privilege of resortingftoall such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied, within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed,

Having thus fully described ,myainven- V vtion, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is: a V r I a a 1. In a collapsible box, top and bottomsections provided with cleats on their longitudinal edges, removable side sections adapted to be fitted between the top and bottom sectionsagainst the inner faces of said cleats,

end sections hinged upon the bottom section for folding movement, rods loosely connected tothe ends of the top and bottom sections, elongated links connected to the rods on the top section of the box, rings connected to the, rods on the bottom section, latch elementsf permanently"connected to said links for engagement through said rings, and locking'rlngs having non-detachable sliding engagement upon said links and adapted for engagement with the respective latch ele-' ments to connect the-top and bottom sections of the box and hold the same in clamping en gagement .uponthe-upper and lower edges of said side sections. I a

'2. In a collapsible box, top and bottom sections, end. sections hinged upon the bot tom section and removable side sections, said end "and side sections being a'dapted for arrangement inerect positions between the top and bottom sections, diver 'ently disposed rods loosely connected to the opposite ends of the topand bottom sections, said rods being connected to each other by a ring, elongated links connected to the ringsof the diverging rods which, are connected to said top sections, a latch element carried by the link adapted to beengaged through the corresponding ring of the rodsconnected to the bottom sectionof the box, and-a sliding locking ring on said link for engagement with JOSEPH rnnncrs. i

Witnesses: '7 B. R. HAMMOND,

V. J. TnRRY.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for'nvecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washin D- 

